• ... Extreme Makeover: Women Transformed by Christ, Not Conformed to the Culture, by Teresa Tomeo (available soon from Ignatius Press) from Cheryl Dickow on CatholicLane.com:
Just as she does on her daily EWTN talk show, Tomeo helps the reader (or listener) “connect the dots” in a way that the
knowledge does become power and makes each of us better equipped to witness to our faith. Tomeo beats down the satan-like voices intent on destroying the gifts of love, forgiveness, and salvation we have in Christ. She fervently witnesses so that we, too, may embrace what has been offered to us as daughters of the King. It is always evident that Tomeo’s love of her faith propels each word she puts on the page.
“The Abortion Distortion” is only one of the many wonderfully-crafted chapters of Extreme Makeover. “Mirror, Mirror” reverberates with Tomeo’s passion to explore and then conquer the low self-esteem problems faced by so many young girls and women today. (Mirror, Mirror on the Wall is also the title of one of Tomeo’s best-selling All Things Girl
Tomeo’s ability to draw together a myriad of resources — using excerpts from documents as profound as Humane Vitae, quotes from such figures as Bishop Aquila, statistics from the likes of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and references to the works of people such as Janet Smith — is an invaluable gift of edification to the reader, a gift that ignites and inspires the reader to love and share the precious gift of her Catholic faith.
Read the entire review.
• ... Fatima For Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope (Ignatius Press, 2011), by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, from Brandon Vogt: 
That's the basic outline, but a new book by Fr. Andrew Apostoli titled Fatima for Today:The Urgent Marian Message of Hope (Ignatius Press, hardcover, 288 pages) goes much deeper and has positioned itself to be the best introduction to all things Fatima.
In the book, Apostoli breaks down each of Mary's messages and explores their significance for our own time. He also covers many different interpretations of the messages from popes, saints, and theologians over the past century. In fact, Pope Benedict XVI's own interpretation, which he wrote while heading the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is included in the book's Appendix in full.
Interestingly, Fr. Apostoli is not only a Fatima expert but also the vice-postulator for the saintly Cause of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, one of my great heroes. In this book, Apostoli highlights many of Sheen's own thoughts on Fatima including one of his most insightful connections. ...
If you're interested in the Fatima visions, the controversial 'three secrets', or the significance and meaning of Mary's messages, Fatima for Today provides a great overview. It's very well-written and I recommend it as the premier one-stop guide to Fatima.
• ... "The Catholicism Project", by Fr. Robert Barron and the Word on Fire apostolate, from Kathryn Jean Lopez of NRO:
And yet, it’s also the best sermon you’ve ever heard. The best class you’ve ever taken. Or the homily you’ve never heard and the classroom you never had available to you. ...
In a day when discussion of the Catholic Church often turns readily, and understandably, to scandal — “abusive priests, clueless bishops, corruption” — Father Barron has not forgotten that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling
among us,” in every tabernacle in the world. Or so he believes, teaches, and seeks to live, along with others who truly seek to live Catholicism. While absolutely in favor of addressing the penitential and ministerial difficulties of “the worst crisis of the Church in America,” with Catholicism, Father Barron refuses to “surrender” to a “tendency to reduce the Catholic Church to our present difficulties.”The story he tells is this enduring belief, that “the Word of God — the mind by which the whole universe came to be — did not remain sequestered in heaven but rather entered into this ordinary world of bodies, this grubby arena of history, this compromised and tear-stained human condition of ours.”
Catholicism is a crash course and, as the cover of the book depicts, an open door. Father Barron takes full advantage here, as he has done in his Word on Fire ministry, of the new schools of our new media. “It’s a way in,” he says.
Catholicism is classic, revolutionary, and plausibly — like the Gospels themselves — game-changing reality TV.
Read the entire review. The "Catholic Project" DVD set, book, and study guide are all available from Ignatius Press:
• "Catholicism": The ten-part series on DVD
• Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, by Fr. Robert Barron
• "Catholicism": Study Guide and Workbook
I have recently watched a movie called Padre Pio: Miracle Man that was beautifully filmed, and it is a
great biography of his holy and humble life devoted to Christ. It is a long movie at 210 minutes, but well worth watching. The acting and cinematography are first rate, as the filming takes place in the historic places around Italy that Padre Pio frequented. One of the moving scenes is where a young Karol Wojtyła makes a pilgrimage to see Padre Pio and they pray together an entire evening. A sceptic of Padre Pio, visited him nearing his death and to prove he was not a fraud, told him of the prediction that Karol Wojtyła would become a pope–indeed!!– Pope John Paul II who would make him a saint. The movie can be watched in Italian with subtitles, or can be viewed with dubbing in either English or Spanish. There is also a good booklet that offers more information about Saint Pio’s life and has discussion questions and commentary. This is a great movie that I highly recommend and will give you a deeper understanding of Saint Padre Pio.More about the movie, including a trailer.
Carl,
I know Ignatius has some solid Padre Pio materials. For someone interested in diving in, but with no prior introduction to Pio, where do you recommend beginning? Thanks!
Your brother,
Brandon
Posted by: Brandon Vogt | Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Hi, Brandon,
Good question! I've not read or viewed most of the books/videos available from Ignatius Press about Padre Pio. But here are some of the options:
Padre Pio: A Holy Priest is a short booklet from Catholic Truth Society that is likely a solid introduction. Padre Pio: The Wonder Worker is a collection of essays that focus on many of the miracles of the Saint. Padre Pio Under Investigation: The Secret Vatican Files is very interesting and informative, but might be best read and enjoyed after reading/viewing an introductory work.
I've heard very good things about the two films, Padre Pio: Miracle Man and Padre Pio: Between Heaven and Earth. Sanctus: Padre Pio is a very thorough documentary that provides a lot of material. That might be a good place to start.
Posted by: Carl E. Olson | Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 12:06 PM